News

New Kidderminster link road gets green light

PLANS for a new link road that could boost economy and cut congestion have been given the green light.

Phase two of the Hoobrook Link Road has been approved by Worcestershire County Council planners and work is expected to start in less than a year.

The development will provide a link from the A451 Stourport Road, over the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal and River Stour, through to the A442 Worcester Road.

Phase one is currently under construction and the £12.4 million second phase will complete the scheme.

Plans for the latest stage were submitted in October 2013. The proposals are for a 600 metre extension to the development access road through the former British Sugar Beet Factory site, which would complete the link from the Stourport Road (A451) to the Worcester Road (A442).

The county council said the route would have a significant impact on the local economy, reduce existing congestion on the Kidderminster ring-road junctions and improve access to the town centre.

Conseravative Simon Geraghty, the county council's deputy leader and cabinet member for economy, skills and infrastructure, said: "This is fantastic news. Phase two of the Hoobrook Link Road is of huge importance not only for Kidderminster and Wyre Forest but also for the success of Worcestershire.

"As well as improving traffic flow, it is one of our four key employment sites across the county.

"The development will not only remove a barrier for the redevelopment of key employment sites within the South Kidderminster Enterprise Park area but also unlock the development potential of phase two of the former British Sugar site and uplift the existing development within the Hoobrook Industrial Estate making this site a more attractive investment proposition."

He added: "Improving transport links in our county is a key priority to secure future economic growth.

2This is one element of a substantial investment in the important improvement project for the county's infrastructure and is a reflection of our commitment to keep the county competitive and ensure it is very much 'Open for Business".

Conservative Rob Adams, chairman of the county council's planning and regulatory committee, added: "These proposals will benefit road users by reducing town centre congestion and enhance the economic potential of the area by unlocking a previously under used site and encouraging new investment.

"We welcome this development as it satisfied a number of the county council's objectives and importantly our Open for Business priority which will benefit the people in this area and the wider community."

Work is expected to start in December or January next year and take 12 to 14 months to complete.

Comments (7)

Very bad desision for all thoes of us that work in Hoobrook Trading Estate
this road will cause havoc to an already heavy A442, its a stupid idea to try to funnel traffic thro to hoobrook when its already chocker,,
5 business's are being told to close, the road layout has taken no account of present traffic on the estate.

I realy suggest the idiots that cleared the plans try to work down here.

Still we will see the outcome in 12 months dont we all didnt tell you

Very bad desision for all thoes of us that work in Hoobrook Trading Estate
this road will cause havoc to an already heavy A442, its a stupid idea to try to funnel traffic thro to hoobrook when its already chocker,,
5 business's are being told to close, the road layout has taken no account of present traffic on the estate.
I realy suggest the idiots that cleared the plans try to work down here.
Still we will see the outcome in 12 months dont we all didnt tell youDriving Instructor

why the hell not use the wilden lane part for it we know its an SSSE so what'
where do they think Spagetti is built, on an ssse, and all the frogs and wildlife came back.
Spennals valley is built on SSSE but nothing was said there, and its built on a flood plane, not that the stupid planners will admit that.
Now we have a ridiculas desision on a road going know where, it will cause absolute chaos but there we go most planners live on chaos.
Just wish they worked on Hoobrook.
God help us

why the hell not use the wilden lane part for it we know its an SSSE so what'
where do they think Spagetti is built, on an ssse, and all the frogs and wildlife came back.
Spennals valley is built on SSSE but nothing was said there, and its built on a flood plane, not that the stupid planners will admit that.
Now we have a ridiculas desision on a road going know where, it will cause absolute chaos but there we go most planners live on chaos.
Just wish they worked on Hoobrook.
God help usDriving Instructor

what congestion, used correctly I have no problem, its idiots who sit looking at empty spaces are the trouble.
And by the way its not a traffic island, its a one way system, if you care to follow the White lines as most drivers dont.
also it will move the congestion down to Hoobrook round about, which is silly, and already overloaded

what congestion, used correctly I have no problem, its idiots who sit looking at empty spaces are the trouble.
And by the way its not a traffic island, its a one way system, if you care to follow the White lines as most drivers dont.
also it will move the congestion down to Hoobrook round about, which is silly, and already overloadedDriving Instructor

Its sheer weight of traffic from Stourport into the stourport road traffic lights that cause the current congestion- surely anything that diverts traffic off the stourport road towards Worcester and cuts out the said lights has got to be a good thing.

Its sheer weight of traffic from Stourport into the stourport road traffic lights that cause the current congestion- surely anything that diverts traffic off the stourport road towards Worcester and cuts out the said lights has got to be a good thing.harryurz